Why sabotage his chances? This is getting rich and you're one of the more reasonable ones. When Bron committed, Zu was on the roster (who Jules played more than last year), TB was bounced (guess we "mistreated" him too), we drafted Moe (a rookie) and McGee (a career of minute restrictions) shortly committed for the vet min before we met with Jules. Kuz is more of a 3/4 and was forced to play small ball 5 before we got TC. BI is a positionless floater. (But you know this already) Meanwhile, NOP had AD (who preferred to play 4), Niko, Ajinca, Okafor and McCoy on the roster on July 2nd... So the latter had no potential for a diminished role? Is he playing more in NOP? When he committed to NOP, was an increased role and more PT promised to him? Btw, here's your source on there being no ceiling to what we could offer him (which I posted earlier in this thread): Now I'll wait patiently till you find me a source or explain to me how releasing a restricted free agent (when we didn't have to and were entitled to keep him here against his and his team's will) is grounds for mistreating said player.
Are you going to tell me with a straight face that Randle would have averaged 18.6/9.3/2.6 on the Lakers with the addition of Lebron and McGee?
LABron: 34.8 mins per (Projected to be a career low) McGee: 23.9 mins per AD: 37.4 mins per (projected to be a career high) Niko: 31.5 mins per (projected to be a career high) Where does it appear he's going to get more minutes to put up more gawdier numbers? And I typed all that up with a straight face.
Sources (aka Mintz) claimed his role could dramatically change: Lakers 17/18: 26.7mins, 16.1pts, 8rbs, 2.6 asts, 0.5blks, 0.5stls Pelicans 18/19: 26.9mins, 18.6pts, 9.3rbs, 2.6asts, 0.5blks, 0.6stls Sources (aka Mintz) claimed Jules was looking for a long-term commitment: Lakers 18/19: at a minimum he signs his QO and makes 12.4m on a 1yr deal Pelicans 18/19: 8.6m on a de facto 1yr deal before exercising his player option for the final year in a two year deal You know what became clear? Those sources claiming Jules wanted something that we couldn't offer him...well those sources lied to us and indirectly lied to Jules. I'm not ignoring Ramona's reliability as an insider...but it sure seems like you're ignoring alot of the facts in what actually transpired.
Yes, his numbers have drastically improved. Which player on our roster can claim that? Maybe Kuzma? How would his numbers looked if he shared the floor with Randle? That's what depth does. Something the Pelicans can't claim, thus being a great opportunity for Randle. That's a $4M difference, or on a 4 year deal it's a $1M difference per year. His goal is to make a splash next summer. I'd say he more than make up for it if he continues to ball on the Pelicans. Yet you still believe he would have put up 37/8, 27/18, and 26/13 (last 3 games) playing on the Lakers next to Lebron? I don't know what to say if you do.
He put those numbers up as the starting center while Niko was out/hobbled. You don't think he'd have similar numbers as the starter here with McGee coming off the bench...you're the big Jules fan, yet you're doubting he could put those numbers up with a willing passer like Bron. You think he couldn't slide into Bron's role once Bron heads to the bench? Luke is monitoring Bron's minutes per Magic's orders...and McGee came off 2 years in the Bay where he avg 9.5 mins per game. You're telling me with a straight face that the opportunity for PT wasn't here? And you keep bringing up the money issue like it was some sort of master plan. He needed us to renounce his rights to enter unrestricted free agency. That was us doing him and his team a solid...there are no if and buts about that. Yet you guys keep clamoring about Jules being mistreated...and keep doing it with a straight face. Y'all wild. With the loss of his bird rights, he entered unrestricted free agency, and his dope agent takes away Phoenix as a potential landing spot by sending his other client, Ariza, there. Still, that left Chicago, Indy, Sac, Atl among a few others. No offers came and all Jules got was a loss of his bird rights and the MLE (aka avg of what NBA players make). Even if he wanted to stay with the Pels next summer, they would have to shed substantial salary to gain enough capspace to give him anywhere close to his max. But if they stay as is, then with the loss of his bird rights, the most he could get is 10.3m in year 1 of that new contract with 5% (as opposed to 8%) annual increases. briLLiant! #KeepCatchingThoseLs
I’d just like to point out that Mirotic has not been injured or hobbled much this season. Two games for a turned ankle and two games for sickness. Carry on.
And I'd just like to point out the last 3 games that tada mentioned Jules's stats, Niko was Dnp, Dnp, 20 mins (aka hobbled aka lowest amount of minutes he's played in a game this year)... But thanks for bringing that up...I guess. And it really doesn't matter if Jules eventually starts and gets more PT...the point is that when he chose to depart and pick NOP, the reason he gave us was that he needed more of a role and he needed a commitment... Yet NOP did not offer or promise a different and more substantive role nor did it offer him more PT ...and they gave him a de facto 1yr commitment with only the possibility of a moderate increase in pay cause they did not trade for him and his bird rights. If you believe that bringing in a 33 yo LABron (who is our starting 3) and looking to extend his playing days so that he can play with his kid, was going to limit your role and PT as a 4/5, then how the f*** can you choose a team with AD that plays the same position(s) as you do and is looking to play more minutes to earn a MVP nod? You're looking for a commitment, yet the team that you picked is incapable of offering you a max deal unless they take their current roster to the shed...otherwise it's most likely 10.3m next summer. You guys done making excuses for oh boy? Carry on.
Isn't that all part of the equation though? Davis and Mirotic are known to be injury prone. And they have no bench, which means lots of opportunities for Julius. He'd be equally as effective, but he'd have a reduced role, as the FO reportedly told him. You can't just gloss over a reliable source like Ramona and make assumptions. If he was promised a starting role, he would have stayed. Less opportunities and less numbers makes no sense for a player seeking a long-term contract. I'm a big Jules fan but I'm realistic. He's not an allstar YET. Chris Bosh's ppg went down from 24 to 18 pts when he first played with Lebron. Kevin Love's ppg went from 26 to 16 pts. At the time, both players were top 5 PF's in the league. So obviously it's not feasible to increase a PF's productivity playing alongside Lebron. Adding to the FACT (ie not subjective) that Julius was promised a reduced role, it's near impossible. Again, that's what he was told by the FO per Ramona Shelburne and other sources. Master plan? What other motive would he have? He wants a long-term contract. Uhh.. the Suns? Why would he, or any young and upcoming FA for that matter, want to go to the worst team in the NBA? Baring injury, he's going to get paid. Wanna bet?
Buuuttt... Nope. I think I'm done rope-a-dopin with ya bro. I've made my points, you've done nothing to convince me of otherwise and I couldnt care less what Jules does from here on out. What he immediately did was leave LA for the exact same situation (probably worse) and in the process lost money, lost his bird rights, lost his goddamn mind and lost this fan. He's never going to get his true max...do you want to make that bet? Nah f*** it...y'all already lost enough by buying his jersey. Moving on (and you probably should to)...
@tada is right. A lot of giant leaps of faith that are expected to be taken as “common sense.” Also the constant denial that Randle would have had a reduced role in a more crowded front court is laughable. The most reliable source out there reports it, but nah...let’s just be condescending and pretend we’re schooling others about why Julius is a dummy and could have prepped for a big payday here too. Maybe the only person who can’t simply let fans just appreciate Julius without the same rehashed, speculative argument should move on.
I have wise guy, but you just brought it up again. Ramona reported this too... remember? Then a source leaks that Jules would have accepted a 12m extension had it been offered? You think Mag/Rob leaked that? You think that same source may have fed Ramona info too? Also, don't take my word for it...this is straight from the Bull's mouth: So what the f*** changed from March to June if Jules was being sincere in wanting to play with Bron-bron? Maybe his agent/representation went dumb-dumb! Say it with me: RESTRICTED free agency. Yet we "mistreated" dude by allowing him an out. Wanted a different role. Yet comes off the bench, plays small ball 5 and plays the same minutes in NOP. Wanted a commitment. Yet penned a de facto 1yr deal in NOP with no bird rights to show for it next summer. Wanted Lakers to "pay me". Yet got paid less (8.6m vs 12.4m) this year...but NOP did give him a free t-shirt doe. GTFO...nah, check that. I will, cause I never liked visiting the Twilight Zone even when it was up and running at Disney. Who knew, it got relocated here... And about that condescending and "pretending to school others" part...how about trying to come hard like @tada , otherwise don't come at all. Next time try adding something to the conversation, wise guy. Till then, zip it till the bell rings. Now Mr. Wallagong, why don't you run along and play while the adults hash it out. And on that note (hope you're still taking notes, class), have fun in here you guys. And keep high 5'n each other while convincing each other you guys are right. Sounds like a great after school activity. #GuardiansOfJulesLegacy #ImStarBored
@vasashi17 hey no worries bro, I'm done too. I enjoy your take on other Lakers related discussion but it's quite apparent you have a personal grudge towards Randle and/or Mintz that you seemingly can't get over. I'll see you in other threads.
In other news, Julius is having an incredible stretch. In the past 4 games, he's averaging 29.5/11.3/3/3 on 60.2 FG% and 50.0 3P%. Davis and Mirotic have been hobbled/dnp'd so he won't be able to keep this up, but the dude is just BEASTING. The biggest improvement this year is his 3 point shooting. Now he's a legitimate threat from beyond the arc.
And you would be correct sir! No meeting with Paula and undermining Rob publicly after he said we had cordial discussions with Jules's people...also the leak of how Jules would have taken a 12.4m extension if LA offered it to start the 2017/18 season...all after we paid a tampering fine for one his clients, who then later f***ed a sit-down with us in free agency, even tho he was so "hellbent" in coming back home. Yeah, I'm definitely no fan of Mintz. I don't want that to get twisted with Jules tho. I sincerely wanted him to stay here...just not on a max deal. He would have been a great complimentary 3rd piece to 2max stars imho. That being said, I'm gone. Have fun with Jules's future success in here. But bring up our FO and how they handled him and his situation again and y'all already know what it is....haha.
Vash is absolutely right...Jules wanted out..err..MINTZ got him out and somehow cost him his bird rights, got him a 1 year deal worth less than his QO...and he's got the same exact role in NOP that he would have had with us. Yeah, solid plan there Jules! Great work by the super agent douchebag MINTZ Also...if lakers made any mistake? It was listening to Mintz and Jules to renounce his rights (which we did in good faith). We shouldn't have listened and we shoulda told him to shut up and dribble...pun intended.
I'll agree with you on one thing @vasashi17 Remember you were saying we should sign him for $50-60M for 4 years because at least he'd be a valuable trade chip? That holds absolutely true now that no FA seems to be available in the summer of 2019. Retaining Randle could have spared us a Kuzma or Ingram towards a Davis trade. Now we're talking about trading away all of our remaining kids. Oh well.
